Transfer of knowledge:
the evaluation of mutual
benefits
Meile Kretaviciene, Kaunas
Elisabeth Husem, Oslo
Inspiration
Communication is all-important in
partnerships - to share information,
develop professional skills and
awareness, and promote the
interchange of ideas. To be successful
and sustainable there must be a two
way process!
Jean Shaw, UK.
EAHIL Newsletter, 1996, nr.36
Background
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The Baltic and the Nordic countries
have always been closely linked
The Nordic/Baltic health libraries
programme was initiated in 1994
Norway - Lithuania

Norway and Lithuania have
established a special bilateral
programme
Situation before
partnership program
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Soviet type library:
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closed access to holding
political literature formed 20% of the
holding
54% of publications were in Russian
30% in Lithuanian
16% in foreign languages
Needs for doctors and students
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International textbooks and
medical books
International journals
Access to databases
Full text journal articles
Needs for medical librarians
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Information on new library
technologies
Up-to-date professional literature
Participation in international
conferences
Contacts with foreign libraries and
librarians.
Study tour to Oslo 2001
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Six Lithuanian health librarians
came to Oslo on a study tour
The programme included visits to
several medical libraries and
health institutions
Study tour …
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They gave presentations of their
libraries and met with many
Norwegian colleagues
This meeting contributed in
fulfilling our aim of a mutual
transfer of knowledge
Pleasure time
Task Force…

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Task Force on Communicable
Disease Control in the Baltic Sea
Region
SMH joined the Task Force project
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experiences in cooperation
network established in the Baltic
countries
St Petersburg

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Medical Academy of Postgraduate
Studies (MAPS)
SMH and Meile have visited MAPS
The MAPS library is now included
into the Nordic-Baltic partnership
programme
St Petersburg
The Winter-palace (not MAPS)!
Transfer of Knowledge
programme I and II

Since year 2000 SMH has
organized continuing education
programmes for Baltic librarians in
cooperation with the Danish
association and Kaunas Medical
University Library
The course participants
Classroom in Kaunas
Searching PubMed
Transfer of Knowledge III

Next time more activity from all
participants
Evaluation of mutual benefits
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What have we learned?
What are the benefits that we, the
Nordic partners, and especially the
Norwegian partners, have gained?
Has there been a two way process?
Benefits
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We have broadened our knowledge
and horizons in many ways:
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understanding of the situation for
medical libraries in the Baltic
countries
Lithuanian culture, history and their
way of living
course holders gained experience
new ways of thinking
Challenges

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Language barrier
Strenuous communication and
dialogue
Lack of feedback
Positive results of Partnership
Program
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Acquired knowledge was a stimulus to
organize training courses for library
personnel as well for library user
As a result informatics has been
included as a new subject into the
University study program for Public
health students.
Positive results …
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The importance of the role of
medical librarian in medical
community is continually
increasing
Creation of Baltic Association for
Medical Libraries (BAML)
Negative factors for
partnership

Language problems

Financial problems
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Psychological barriers to
communicate
Factors for successful
partnership
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Long-term partnership program
Partnership between national
associations rather than between
twin libraries
Mutual analysis of needs and
mutual program creation
Factors for success…
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Priority for professional
development
Support to attend conferences and
workshops
Involving into activities of
professional associations
Conclusion - Meile
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The partnership program between Baltic
and Nordic medical libraries and the
knowledge gained from Nordic
colleagues have contributed very much
to our professional achievements.
The close collaboration between SHM
and Lithuanian medical libraries
remains to be an important stimulus for
our future activities.
No singing barriers!
Singing and dancing
a happy and relaxed atmosphere
Conclusion - Elisabeth
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Cross boundaries - Join forces
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professional network
friendship and understanding
rewarding